Female Novel
Chapter 211
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ian had enveloped Clara in a protective embrace. Hislarge hand gripped her shoulder tightly. His face was a thundercloud, and his eyes were a stormyglare fixed on Brodie. Each word he spat out was laced with frost. “No way! She’s my woman.”
Every cell in his body was bristling with rage.
Brodie’s little act couldn’t fool him. Brodie was pretending to need a fake girlfriend, but actuallyattempting to snatch his girl. He had just managed to send Anders and Ryker packing, No way washe going to let another man anywhere near Clara. If it hadn’t been for the fact that Brodie had savedClara, Ian would have happily decked him one.
Brodie glanced at Ian, then, with impeccable tact, turned to Clara. “I apologize if I’ve caused Ms.Clara any discomfort. Forget I said anything. Let’s call it off. I don’t need any compensation. Please,go on your way.”
He nodded politely, ready to lie down for a rest.
Just then, Clara’s voice, soft and clear, cut through the tension. “I agree to your terms.”
At the sound of her voice, Ian’s arm tightened around her shoulders. He pulled her closer. His darkeyes churned with emotion. “Clara, you can’t trust him; this is all his scheming.”
Clara stepped back, breaking free from Ian’s hold. Her expression was calm. “I’m capable of makingmy own judgments, Mr. Hayes. We’ve settled our debts, remember? There’s nothing between usanymore.”
Her words slapped him across the face. Those heartless words he said to Clara before became aknife targeting his own heart.
He clenched his fists. His voice dropped an octave. “Clara, is this really how you want to treat me?You’d rather trust a stranger than believe in me?”
Clara’s smile was faint. “Didn’t you do the same? Trusting Heidi over and over, pushing me to thebrink?”
Ian was left speechless. He stared at Clara’s defiant face for a long moment, then said coldly, “You’llsee that you’re making a mistake!” He stormed out of the hospital room.
Chase hurried after him. “Come on. Don’t go! I bet you could win her back. I don’t want to end upbabysitting that prickly little hedgehog.”
Ian shot him a glare. “Did I say I was giving up?”
“Then why aren’t you stopping Clara? Brodie may look all prim and proper, but there’s something offabout him. He’s got this sneaky vibe. I bet he knew Clara from before.”
Ian stopped dead in his tracks. His icy gaze turned to Chase. “What makes you say that?”
“Doesn’t Clara like strawberry cake but not the strawberries in it?”novelbin
“How do you know?”
Chase gave a rogue’s grin. “How would I know? But Brodie does, and he played it cool enough thatClara didn’t see through him. Still think he’s that simple?”
Ian felt the gravity of the situation. It was a detail he had only found out about Clara over time. Howdid Brodie, upon first meeting, seem to understand her so well? There were no coincidences here.
He immediately sent Dawson to dig up dirt on Brodie.
Meanwhile, Heidi, in her quest to sabotage Clara, had tripped someone at the party and got herankle stepped on. She tried calling her brother Edwin for a ride, but the line went unanswered.
She had this nagging feeling that Edwin was keeping something from her. Lately, he’d been distant,barely speaking to her, either not picking up her calls or hanging up after a few words.